The value of agricultural production increased by 27.3% in 2008 compared to 2007, influenced especially by increases in the price of soybeans, corn, beans and rice, as well as increases in the production of sugarcane, coffee and wheat. In current figures, production reached R$ 148.4 billion, an increase of R$ 31.4 billion. In 2008, the 64 crops investigated by IBGE’s survey Municipal Agricultural Production (PAM) together occupied an area of 65,338,804 hectares. The total planted area presented growth of 4.8%, what represented the incorporation of almost 3.0 million hectares. In 2008, soy was responsible for 26.1% of Brazilian agricultural production, followed by corn (14.0%) and sugarcane (13.9%). The national production of cereals, legumes and oilseeds¹ was a record in 2008, reaching 145.4 million tons, an increase of 9.1% in relation to the previous year. The national production of corn in grain was a record in 2008. With the contribution of 15.6%, São Paulo led the state distribution of production figures in 2008, followed by Paraná, which accounted for 14.8% of national production. The municipality of Sorriso (MT) is the country’s largest corn and soy producer. The 22 fruit crops investigated generated a revenue of R$ 17.4 billion, orange being the main crop. Those and other pieces of information are part of the survey Municipal Agricultural Production 2008, which investigates the main products of national temporary and permanent crops, detailed by municipality.

 

The good prices fetched by soybeans and corn in the international market, due to the smaller supply, brought an increase in the planted area of approximately 736 thousand hectares of corn in 2008 compared to 2007. Climate favored crop development, especially of corn, which recorded growth of 7.8% in its average yield. In 2008, soy production reached 59.2 million tons, whereas that of corn reached 58.9 million tons.

The increased production of corn in the last two years resulted from a demand for the product in the international market, because the United States, the world’s biggest corn producer and exporter, reserved good part of its production to ethanol industry, what has raised corn price in the market.

In 2008, soy was responsible for 26.1% of Brazilian agricultural production. That happened due to the good prices the product fetched in international market, reflecting increased consumption; the policy some exporting countries adopted, which increased export taxes; and the reduction of planted area in the USA, which destined a bigger part of its lands to corn production.

In Brazil, corn was responsible for 14.0% of the production figures, closely followed by sugarcane, which contributed with 13.9%. Corn achieved good production (grew by 13.1%) and good prices, what increased its production value. Sugarcane had a 17.4% growth in production, but generated an impact of only 8.2% on production value, that is, sugarcane producers obtained less for the product than had happened in 2007. Soy, corn and sugarcane were responsible for 54.0% of the country’s production value in 2008.

Sugarcane, with an expansion of 1.1 million hectares (15.9%), was the crop that most developed in absolute figures in 2008. That growth results from a series of new investments made in the country in the last five years, aimed at supplying national and international markets with ethanol.

The increased production of rice (9.2%) and beans (9.0%) originated from crop productivity gains (input and technology), since the planted area remained stable. Some important producing states suffered with the lack of rains during sowing, what increased pressure on those products prices.

With 15.6% participation, São Paulo led the state distribution of production figures in 2008. This year there was a better distribution balance, because other states were propelled by the good prices fetched by soy, corn, beans and rice, rather than the prices of sugarcane and orange, main products of São Paulo. São Paulo was also the leading producer of peanuts (76.2%), persimmon (50.9%), lemon (77.8%) and tangerine (39.0%), leading the cultivation of other crops, such as bananas (17.5%), potatoes (20.6%), tomatoes (19.9%) and grapes (13.6%).

Paraná was responsible for 14.8% of Brazilian agricultural production figures in 2008. The state stood out as the main producer of corn (26.5%), beans (22.3%) and wheat (50.9%), being the second main producer of soy (19.9%), just behind Mato Grosso, which accounted for 29.1% of soy national production and 13.2% of corn production.

 

The municipality of Sorriso (MT) is the major national producer of soy and corn

 As a rule, the municipalities whose agriculture is directed to the production of cereal, legumes and oilseeds obtained the highest increases in production value, due principally to good prices fetched by those products. Sorriso, in Mato Grosso, obtained the highest production value in 2008, with an increase of 63.4% in relation to 2007. The municipality is the main national producer of corn and soy, and surpassed the municipality of São Desidério, in Bahia, main producer of herbaceous cotton. São Desidério had a 29.5% increase in production value in comparison to 2007.

The municipality of Cristalina, in Goiás, had a 54.0% increase in production value, standing out in the cultivation of soy, beans, corn, potatoes, onions and tomatoes. This diversification is important for the economy of the municipality, which will not be restricted to monoculture. Unaí, in Minas Gerais, with a 75.9% increase in production value, stood out in the cultivation of soy, corn and beans, being the main national producer of this last crop. Another municipality of Minas Gerais that stood out was Uberaba, where sugarcane fields have greatly expanded: the increase in sugarcane production was 68.0% just in 2008.

 

Production value of irrigated fruit production in Petrolina (PE) grew by 36.9%

The municipality of Petrolina, in Pernambuco, recorded a production value of R$ 570.3 million. With an economy based on fruit production, directed mainly towards exportation, the municipality presented a 36.9% increase in production value in comparison to 2207. Petrolina is the second national producer of mango, the most economically important crop in the municipality, responsible for 48.3% of production value. Grape is another crop that stands out, being the municipality the second Brazilian producer, responsible for 33.8% of municipal production value.

 

Cotton production decreased by 3.1% in the country because of production costs

The national production of herbaceous cotton, in the 2008 harvest, was 3,983,181 tons, 3.1% inferior to that obtained in 2007. The reduction was mostly a reflex of retraction in the harvest area that was 1,063,817 ha, showing a decrease of 5.0%.

The six major producers of herbaceous cotton in the country are: Mato Grosso, Bahia, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais and São Paulo. It must be emphasized that Mato Grosso and Bahia together represent 81.6% of the whole production.

In Mato Grosso, main national producer, the obtained production of 2,083,398 t was 5.5% inferior to that of the previous year, contrasting with forecasts in the beginning of the harvest, because not all the areas intended for plantation were really planted. This is due to the fact that the production cost of cotton is higher than that of other crops, as well as the delay on the early harvest of soy in some areas, making the planting of cotton impracticable. The other Central West states presented a small reduction in production. In Bahia, state that represents 29.3% of national production, figures show a small increase in relation to the previous year (3.8%), due to the favorable climate.

Major decreases took place in Minas Gerais (16.1%) and São Paulo (52.9%), which considerably reduced their areas to plant cotton. São Desidério (BA) is the major cotton producing municipality in the country: its planting area (136,756 ha) is far superior to those of other producers. Among the 20 main producing municipalities, 12 belong to the state of Mato Grosso.

 

Rice production grows by 15.7% in Rio Grande do Sul

In 2008, national production of rice in husk amounted 12,061,465 tons, representing a 9.0% increase in relation to 2007 production. In the country 2,850,678 hectares were harvested, with average yield of 4,231 kg/ha.

This production increase is due principally to harvest performance of Rio Grande do Sul, which grew by 15.7%, completing 7,336,443 tons. In the state, the harvested area reached 1,065,357 hectares, representing a growth of 13.2% compared to the 941,058 hectares harvested in the previous season. The average yield presented an increase of 2.2%, being fixed at 6,886 kg/ha. Rio Grande do Sul is currently responsible for approximately 60% of national production of the cereal; there flood irrigation predominates.

Nineteen of the 20 main rice producing municipalities belong to Rio Grande do Sul, except the municipality Lagoa da Confusão (Tocantins), the 14^th place. Together, just the five main producers – Uruguaiana, Itaqui, Santa Vitória do Palmar, Alegrete and Dom Pedrito – accounted for 18.2% of national production and 30.3% of the production in Rio Grande do Sul. The expressive production increases of the municipalities of Uruguaiana (46.3%) and Dom Pedrito (70.0%) represented a return to normal production levels, considering that the cultivated area in 2007 was smaller because of the low levels of reservoirs at planting.

The state of Santa Catarina, with a participation of 8.4% in Brazilian rice production, was second in the national ranking, despite its production decrease of 2.0%. Next come the states of Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Tocantins and Pará. Comparing the ranking of rice producing states in 2007 and 2008, we can see that Mato Grosso, third place in 2007, gave place to Maranhão in 2008. Pará, fifth place in 2007, was surpassed by Tocantins in 2008. Mato Grosso presented a production decrease of 3.5%, and reduction of 12.8% in the harvested area. Pará presented decreases of 20.6% in production and 18.2% in harvested area.

In 2008, national production of rice in husk amounted approximately R$ 7 billion; the average value per ton was R$ 580.24/t. That average value represents an increase of 40.4% in relation to 2007, which was R$ 413.37/t.

 

Coffee production grows by 24.4% in a year of bumper crops

National coffee harvest of 2008 amounted 46.6 million 60-kg bags (2,796,927 t). In 2007 the country harvested 37.5 million bags (2,249,011 t). In 2008, therefore, production increase was 24.4%. The consolidated average national yield was 1,259 kg/ha (21.0 bags/ha). The harvested area was 2,222,224 ha (-1.8%).

 

In the main producing areas of the country, the rains of July and August 2007 were followed by a dry weather initiated in September that continued until October, when the plant first comes into flower and there would be a consistent perspective for the 2008 harvest. From then on precipitations became stable, enabling reproductive structures to survive and new flowers to bloom, what would later bring the fruits, crucial for the crop. Despite that, the country had one of the most bountiful harvests in history.

In Minas Gerais, main producing state, like in other federation units, 2008, during the two-year coffee cycle, had a bumper crop. Climate conditions in the state were favorable to grain filling as well as to harvest, being indicative of quality for harvested grains.

Espírito Santo, second producer, suffered from the drought in 2007, which affected more intensely the variety Conilon, exploited at the north of the state. There, losses caused by the lack of rain were not more dramatic because of routine irrigation. For the variety Arabica, however, losses were not recorded in the state.

This publication considers informing states of coffee, in ascending order of participation in the country’s total production: Minas Gerais (50.6%), Espírito Santo (22.1%), São Paulo (9.2%), Bahia (5.8%), Paraná (5.6%) and Rondônia (4.0%). The remaining national production, 2.7%, is distributed among the following Federation Units: Acre, Pará, Ceará, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Goiás and the Federal District.

Coffee from the Cerrado gained importance, in terms of average yield and quality, due to irrigation, essential resource for plantations in lands of that biome. Another highlight of this crop is the increasing cultivation of Coffea canephora (Robusta, Conilon, Vitoria, etc.) in states that typically produce Coffea arabica, like São Paulo and Paraná. That expansion results from a greater demand for the product, either because its growing usage in blends, because of rusticity or the best relation cost/price, when compared to Arabica.

 

Sugarcane had record harvest, with increase of 17.4% in comparison to 2007

The Brazilian production of sugarcane set a record in 2008, with 645,300,182 tons, reflecting an increase of 17.4% in comparison to 2007. The expansion of the harvested area in more than 1.0 million hectares (16.5%) reflects the new projects being implanted in the country, aimed at supplying national and international markets with ethanol.

São Paulo remains the major sugarcane producer, responsible for 59.8% of Brazilian production. The state presented a growth of 17.3% in comparison to 2007 and reached a total of 386.1 million tons. The expressive production increase and the excess of rain in the final months of 2008 caused the harvest to extend in some refineries. Despite the expressive produced quantity, in terms of production value, there was an increase of just 2.0%, that is, a reduction in the price received per sugarcane ton paid in 2008 to producers, who allege to receive a price below production cost. The fall in sugarcane price happened due to the big amount of sugar produced in India, reducing the price of the product in international markets, and to the great price reduction of a barrel of petroleum, which reached U$ 147.00 and finished the year around U$ 40.00; reflect of the crisis that affected world economy.

 

Paraná and Minas Gerais, responsible for 7.9% and 7.4% of national production, respectively, also had production increases of 11.7% and 23.7%. Yet the biggest impact of the expanded sugar fields may be observed in the Central West Region, where there is a greater land availability that makes prices more affordable. Goiás presented a 47.9% growth in sugarcane production, followed by Mato Grosso do Sul, with a 34.9% increase, due to the expansion and to the new industries that developed in those states.

The municipality of Morro Agudo, in Northern São Paulo, remains the key national producer, with 10.3 million tons, what represented 1.6% of national production and 2.7% of the production of São Paulo. Sugarcane production is the main farming activity in the municipality. The fertile lands and the favorable relief, associated with an advanced technological level, propitiated an average productivity of 90,000 kg/ha, 5.6% above state average and 13.5% above national average.

Considering production distribution among main producing municipalities, the news was the second place of Rio Brilhante, confirming the expansion in Mato Grosso do Sul; and the fourth place of Uberaba, in the region of Triângulo Mineiro, where the capacity of refineries and distilleries was extended, also with new implantations, meeting demands both for ethanol and for sugar and sugarcane liquor. In those municipalities, the increased production was 109.8% and 64.9%, respectively. The municipality in Mato Grosso do Sul was responsible for 29.3% of state production; and Uberaba, for 11.4% of the production in Minas Gerais. Most of those areas have fertile soils and new sugarcane fields that, associated with high technology usage, have achieved high productivity.

 

Bean production grows by 9.2%

The national production of beans obtained in 2008, considering the three harvests of the product, amounted to 3,461,194 t, showing a 9.2% increase in relation to the previous year. In general, the good performance of the product that year is due principally to the recovery of market prices during the second and third harvests, associated with good climate conditions in important producing centers.

The product is grown all over the national territory. The six main producing states were responsible for approximately 70.0% of the total produced in the country.

Paraná remained as the main producer, with a participation of 22.3% in the total produced in the country, despite having obtained a production of 771,291 tons, just 0.6% superior to that obtained in 2007. In that state, the small increase is due to the second harvest of the product, which presented gains because of price recovery and improvement of climate conditions. The cultivation of the first harvest presented unfavorable results, because of the lack of rain that made the planting of many areas impracticable in the recommended time, and because of the low prices during the implantation time of this harvest. Minas Gerais, on second place, produced 584,292 tons, showing the expressive growth of 21.5%, comparable to the obtained in the previous year. In Bahia, important producing center, with the drought observed in the second harvest, production showed a small reduction of 0.3%, with 318,522 tons being produced. In 2008 the fifth and the sixth places were occupied by, respectively, Ceará and Goiás, while in 2007, in the same order, Goiás and Santa Catarina occupied those places.

The distribution of the 20 main bean producing municipalities that, with a total of 773,723 tons, account for 22.3% of national production. As may be observed, although Paraná is the main national producer, with five municipalities in the list of main producers in the country, the municipality of Unaí, in Minas Gerais, kept hegemony by producing a volume of 123,840 tons. On the other hand, the municipality of Cristalina (GO), which in the last years had been occupying the second place, was surpassed by Brasília, which recorded a produced volume of 45,958 tons. Another relevant aspect is the presence of two municipalities of Mato Grosso in that list. In this state, the favorable climate and the high price of the product stimulated producers to expand cultivations, especially extending the area of caupi beans, which because of its rusticity has greater resistance against diseases, greater tolerance towards drought and a low production cost in comparison to other species/varieties. Thus, Primavera do Leste, with 26,160 tons, and Campos de Júlio, with 20.836 tons, presented significant increases of 102.0% and 554.8%, respectively, in 2008 in face of 2007.

 

Approximately 60% of orange juice around the world market is Brazilian

The national harvest of 2008 amounted to 18,538,084 t (454.4 million boxes of 40.8 kg). It is in São Paulo, with 78.4%participation in the production, that almost all the raw material is processed, and the juice is exported. The state produced 14,537,610 t (356.3 million boxes of 40.8 kg). Approximately 60% of the juice around the world is Brazilian, especially from oranges and other citrus fruits grown in São Paulo.

The production of citrus fruits of São Paulo has slowly been altered because of fruit prices that are not on a par with those of the exported juice, because of the high incidence of pests and diseases, as well as the invasion of sugarcane on traditionally citrus areas.

The intense concentration of orchards is still in Northern São Paulo, but stretches over Triângulo Mineiro. In Minas Gerais (3.1% national participation), the obtained production was 583.924 t (14.3 million boxes). That production of Triângulo is processed in São Paulo, and the juice is also directed to exporting.

States that also have important participations in the Brazilian production of citrus fruits are: Bahia (6.0%), Sergipe (4.2%), Paraná (2.8%) and Rio Grande do Sul (1.8%). Paraná emerges as an agro industrial cluster area, and already has three juice extracting units aimed at exporting the concentrated and frozen product to Europe and the Middle East. The production of citrus fruits of Paraná, implanted with high technology, is in expansion and presents productivity superior to all producing states, including São Paulo.

The state of Bahia is the second producer in the country, with an obtained harvest of 1,116,896 t (27.4 million boxes). There, the municipality of Rio Real, one of the 20 main orange producers in the country, has significant participation in citrus production, both in the cultivated area and in the good technological level of its orchards, a result of Programa Bahia Citros.

 

National production of corn in grain was record in 2008

The national production of corn in grain was record in 2008, for both harvests, amounting 58.9 million tons, a positive change of 13.1% since the previous year. Of that total, 39.9 million tons (67.7%) originate from the first harvest, and 19.0 million tons (32.3%), from the second. The increase of 2.2 million tons (5.9%) for first harvest corn and of 4.6 million tons (31.8%) for the second, when compared to the same periods of 2007, may be partially explained by the improvement on prices to the producer, from the first quarter of 2007 to the third quarter of 2008. The good prices stimulated the expansion of the planted area of corn in grain by 5.3%, changing from 14.0 million hectares in 2007 to 14.7 million hectares in 2008. Further investments in technology and the good climate conditions also contributed for the increase of 7.8% in the average yield of the crop, which changed from 3,785 kg/ha in 2007 to 4,080 kg/ha of the national average in 2008. Corn in grain represented 40.5% of the national production of cereals, legumes and oilseeds in 2008, coming just after soy, main national product.

Two grave crises marked the production of corn in 2008. The first one stimulated the planting of the crop due to the price increase given to a supply reduction by the USA, major producer and exporter of corn in grain, once part of the production would be transformed in ethanol. At the same time, increases in petroleum price and agriculture inputs, the change in the type of consumption of developing countries, and the transactions in world stock exchanges, among other factors, according studies published in May 2008 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), directly affected world food security and caused a more severe lack of food, consequently increasing prices of those basic products in the so-called “world food price crisis”. The second crisis, called the “world credit crisis” (September 2008) closed 2008 with full national inventories of corn in grain, 118.2% superior to that of December 31, 2007, according to results published at the IBGE Survey of Stocks.

The South Region had major participation in the first harvest national production of corn (47.6%), estimated as 18,982,805 tons. For the second harvest of corn, major participation was achieved by the Central West Region, with 60.1% of national production in this period, estimated in 11,445,416 tons. Because of the good prices observed in the period before sowing of second harvest, farmers sowed up to the maximum tolerated limit of the agricultural calendar.

The Federation Units that together represent 76.4% of the national production of corn in grain for 2008 present themselves in the following positions: first, Paraná (15,613,442 t); second, Mato Grosso (7,799,413 t); third, Minas Gerais (6,611,100 t); fourth, Rio Grande do Sul (5,231,885 t); fifth, Goiás (5,101,543 t); sixth, São Paulo (4,681,177 t).

In Paraná, corn prices changed from R$ 22.00 to R$ 28.00 per 60-kg bag in January 2008, while the average in January 2007 was R$ 16.56 per bag. In April, prices ranged from R$ 19.00 to R$ 21.50 per 60-kg bag. Lower prices were achieved in Mato Grosso, partially due to the poor conditions of roads for production outflow, what made freight more expensive, ranging from R$ 9.00 to R$ 12.00/bag in November.

 

Mato Grosso was the leading soy producer in 2008

The national production of soy in 2008 amounted 59,242,480 tons. It was 2.4% bigger than that of the previous year, when 57,857,172 tons were harvested. The harvested area also recorded a growth of 2.4%, with 21,057,302 ha. Mato Grosso was the main national producer of this harvest, with 29.1% of the total harvested in the country. Moreover, among the 20 main soy producing municipalities of the country in 2008, 13 are from Mato Grosso: Sorriso, Nova Mutum, Sapezal, Campo Novo do Parecis, Diamantino, Lucas do Rio Verde, Nova Ubiratã, Itiquira, Querência, Campos de Júlio, Ipiranga do Norte, Brasnorte and Santa Rita do Trivelato. In the municipality of Sorriso, first place in the national ranking, 1,794,000 tons were harvested, what corresponds to 3.0% of total.

 

Paraná, with a production of 11,800,466 tons (19.9% of the national total), was the second main producer for the 2008 season; yet no municipality from Paraná appears in the ranking of 20 main producers. The lack of rain occurred in January and February, in the Southwest and West areas of the state, did not affect productivity of crops in Paraná. The state average yield was 2,973 kg/ha, almost the same as the previous year (2,963 kg/ha).

The state of Rio Grande do Sul, third main national producer, with a production of 7,679,939 tons, 22.7% smaller than that of 2007, was intensely affected by climate disturbances caused by La Niña. The average yield of crops in Rio Grande do Sul decreased by 20.9% in relation to the obtained in the previous harvest. The effects of La Niña existed also on Santa Catarina, spreading to Mato Grosso do Sul.

Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Bahia and Minas Gerais appear next in the ranking, with participations of 11.1%, 7.7%, 4.6% and 4.3%, respectively, in national production. In Goiás the highlights were the municipalities of Rio Verde and Jataí; in Mato Grosso do Sul, Maracaju and Dourados; in Bahia, São Desidério, Formosa do Rio Preto and Luís Eduardo Magalhães.

At national level, total production value was R$ 38.7 billion. On average, the amount per harvested ton was R$ 653.74, what, in comparison to the figure of 2007 (R$ 445.84/ton), corresponds to an increase of 46.6%. At state level, the average values per harvested ton were: Mato Grosso, R$ 561.32 (45.9% more than average value in 2007); Paraná, R$ 727.95 (+49.0%); Rio Grande do Sul, R$ 715.74 (+57.3%);Goiás, R$ 639.73 (+38.0%); Mato Grosso do Sul, R$ 622.83 (+41.5%); Bahia, R$ 680.33 (+29.1%); and Minas Gerais, R$ 699.26 (+41.6%).

In the central area of the state of Mato Grosso there is a concentration of great soy producing municipalities; at the same longitude, but in the state of Bahia, there are other important producing municipalities, such as São Desidério, Formosa do Rio Preto, Luís Eduardo Magalhães and Barreiras.

 

Production of wheat (in grain) grew by 46.5% in 2008 compared to 2007

The national production of wheat was 6,027,131 tons, 46.5% superior to the obtained in the previous year. This rise was a result of the larger planted area in 2008. That year presented excellent climate conditions and propitiated a rise of 14.9% on the average yield of the crop. The larger planted area with the cereal occurred due to restrictions on Argentine shipment and to reductions in the world inventories. With that picture of high internal and external prices, near time to sow the grain, there was a motivation to agriculture, causing an expansion of the cultivated area.

The South region was responsible for 92.8% of national harvest. Paraná contributed with 50.9%, followed by Rio Grande do Sul, with 36.5%, and Santa Catarina with 5.4%. National production is limited to eight states: the three already cited of the South region, besides Minas Gerais and São Paulo, of the Southeast region; and the entire Central West region and the Federal District. In this context of limited geographical scope and strong concentration of production in the South, 13 municipalities out of the South stand out, for presenting the highest average yields, superior to 5 thousand kg/ha, that is, around twice as much as the national average yields: São Gonçalo do Abaeté (MG), Perdizes (MG), Presidente Olegário (MG), Brasília, Campos Altos (MG), Rio Paranaíba (MG, Campo Grande de Goiás (GO), Orizona (GO), Paracatu (MG), Rio Verde (GO), Silvânia (GO), Unaí (MG) and Vianópolis (GO).

As to the produced amount, among the 20 main producing municipalities, 19 belong to the South Region, especially for presenting large harvested areas. Tibagi, in Paraná, was the main national producer of the cereal, with 128,000 t and a harvested area of 40,000 ha, representing 2.1% of the Brazilian harvest. The second municipality was Campos Novos, (SC), with 72,600 t, what represented 1.2% of the harvest. Next come Londrina (PR), with 70,472 t; Giruá (RS), with 66,000 t; and Tupanciretã (RS), with 63,180 t.

 

Production of orange, grapes and melon decreased

Among the 64 crops investigated in this publication, 22 are fruits that were grown in 3,016,858 hectares, generating revenue of R$ 17.4 billion, 4.8% higher than in 2007. This revenue represents 11.7% of the total figure achieved by agriculture in 2008. The products that most contributed to that growth were banana, with an increase of 8.8% in production value; pineapple (9.2%); papaya (14.2%); apple (5.1%) and coconut (29.1%). Among the fruits, only three presented a decrease in production value: orange (-1.1%), grape (-10.0%) and melon (-18.5%).

In 2008, in Brazil, 836,602 hectares of orange were harvested, generating a production of 18,538,084 tons and a production value of R$ 5.1 billion, what represented 29.3% of the Brazilian production value obtained by fruits. The crop is concentrated in São Paulo, responsible for 78.4% of the Brazilian production, where the biggest orange squeezing industries are, making the state the world’s major producer of the fruit, and also the major producer and exporter of the juice.

Banana and grapes are also highlights for contributing with 18.2% and 8.8% to the value of Brazilian production generated by fruit production. Banana is a crop distributed all around Brazil, being Bahia the main national producer, responsible for 20.3% of the Brazilian production. In that state the municipalities of Wenceslau Guimarães and Bom Jesus da Lapa stand out, responsible for 11.1% and 10.6%, respectively. In São Paulo the average crop yield stands out, above national average due to good climate conditions in the state and the employed technology, principally in Vale do Ribeira, main producing area of the state. Grape is a crop that is concentrated spatially, with Rio Grande do Sul producing more than half of the Brazilian production (54.7%).

 

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¹ A group of 15 products designated cereals, legumes and oilseeds is closely observed by administrators of public policies on production and supply, being products of easy dry storage. The products, by order of importance, are: soy, corn, beans, rice, herbaceous cotton, wheat, sorghum, peanuts, barley, castor beans, sunflower, oats, triticale, rye and arboreal cotton.